Be careful out there on the streets

To the editor:

Now that summer is upon us, it is time to remind bicyclists and motorists about the rules of the road. As I drove down Main Street this evening a teenager on a small child's bicycle glibly rode directly into my path from the opposite side of the street, and then had the gall to swear at me when I yelled at him.

Parents, please tell your children that rules of the road apply to them. If you think it’s OK to interrupt the flow of motor vehicle traffic just because you are under 18, you are seriously mistaken. Read up on your responsibilities at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/laws_regs.shtml.

The Oregon Legislature is trying to pull a sort of bait and switch on voters.

Except lawmakers want to keep the bait, at least temporarily. And the switch, well it doesn’t even exist.

The bait was Measure 57. The measure, which requires longer sentences for people convicted of certain drug and property crimes, was touted by the Legislature as a better, and cheaper, alternative to Measure 61, which would have imposed similar, but tougher, sanctions.

We’d wager that it’s a simpler task to sign your name on a sheet of paper than to scrawl words on a sidewalk with a chunk of chalk.

Signing the paper isn’t against the law, either, which is nice.

Nor do you have to wait until after sunset.

Meddling in mayor election

To the editor:

Why did city council terminate Steve Brocato’s employment as city manager? 

One reason may be Brocato’s violation of the International City/County Management Ethics Code: “Not engage in the election campaign of any candidate for mayor.”  How did Brocato violate this code he told councilors he followed?

After last fall’s election, the likely candidates to succeed Jeff Petry as mayor were councilors Andrew Bryan and Dennis Dorrah. It was no secret that Brocato favored Bryan and did not want Dorrah to be mayor, but Bryan could not muster the votes.

Brocato was a good manager

To the editor:

I had the privilege of serving Baker City as a councilor for two years. During that time we interviewed prospective new city managers. When we interviewed Steve Brocato we asked what his management style was. His response was if you want a bureaucrat, I am not the one, but if you want a team builder and a fiscally responsible financial manager then I am the one you want.

Brocato could use some advice

To the editor:

From newspaper accounts, observance of council telecasts and from information conversations, it appears to me that despite Mr. Brocato’s obvious management skills (recognized by six of the seven council members in his recent evaluation) four of his employers have been so shaken by his management style that it was impossible for them to arrive at any solution but his dismissal.